Signal-activated lingerie

ABSTRACT

A lingerie comprises a panel, a first and second strap, and a signal-activated fastener. The first and second straps are coupled via the signal-activated fastener which is housed inside a housing. The signal-activated fastener unfastens when it receives a signal, causing the housing to decouple from the end of one of the straps and pulling the entire lingerie with it so that the lingerie falls off from the wearer&#39;s body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of a co-pendingnon-provisional patent application entitled “CLAP-OFF BRA,” filed Jan.18, 2013, as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/744,985 by the sameinventor. The present patent application is further acontinuation-in-part of a co-pending non-provisional patent applicationentitled “BIOMETRIC GARMENT AND METHOD OF OPERATION,” filed Oct. 22,2007, as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/977,076 by the sameinventor, which in turn, was the formalization of a previously filed,co-pending provisional patent application entitled “BIOMETRIC GARMENTAND METHOD OF OPERATION,” filed Oct. 20, 2006, as U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 60/853,210 by the inventor. This patent applicationclaims the benefit of the filing date of the cited non-provisional andprovisional patent applications according to the statutes and rulesgoverning provisional and non-provisional patent applications,particularly 35 USC §§119, 120, 121, and 37 CFR §1.78. The specificationand drawings of the cited provisional and non-provisional patentapplications are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection tothe facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as itappears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, butotherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is related to garments comprising a signal-activatedfastener. In particular, the present invention relates to a lingerie,including methods of operation, wherein the signal-activated fastener,inside a housing, receives a signal and unfastens causing the housing todecouple and wherein the weight of the housing due to gravity causes thelingerie to fall off from the wearer's body.

BACKGROUND

In the aforementioned pending patent applications, the garment, orspecifically, the lingerie was not designed to accommodate asignal-activated fastener such that the weight of the fastener could beadvantageously utilized to cause the lingerie to fall off from thewearer's body. In the present application, the lingerie comprises apanel that covers one or more areas of a wearer's body. The panelincludes a first and second panel-end which are coupled with a first andsecond straps. The first and second straps are coupled via asignal-activated fastener which is housed inside a housing. The housingmay be of spherical shape for instance where it can easily roll down thewearer's body. The signal-activated fastener unfastens when it receivesa signal, such as the clapping sound of a person clapping twoconsecutive claps, causing the housing to decouple from the end of oneof the straps and pull the entire lingerie with it so that the lingeriefalls off from the wearer's body. In the following, the texts of theaforementioned pending patent applications are repeated here for contextbut they will be amended in such a way to provide detailed descriptionof the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention aspresented in FIGS. 6 through 8.

Lingerie, such as bras which are worn by females, have a fasteningmechanism, such as a hook-type fastener, which is difficult to open,especially for the male counterpart. A bra according to the presentinvention could be made using a signal-activated fastener such that thefemale's boyfriend or husband could clap his hand and the bra wouldautomatically open.

The present state of the art in using authentication systems in varietyof applications is well known to skilled artisans. In particular, voiceor fingerprint authentication systems are routinely utilized in securityapplications. The present invention combines the existing technology ofauthentication with an article of clothing. Specifically, the presentdisclosure is a signal-activated bra which comprises a signal-activatedfastener operative to unfasten the bra when said signal-activatedfastener receives the clapping sound generated by a person clappinghis/her hands.

The present invention disclosure further illustrates a signal-activatedgarment comprising a signal-activated fastener whereby the garment maybe fastened or unfastened when a signal, received by thesignal-activated fastener, substantially matches a predetermined signal.Various types of garments and voice-activated fasteners can be utilized.In one preferred embodiment, a brassiere comprises a signal-activatedfastener whereby the brassiere may be fastened or unfastened when abiometric voice signal substantially matches a predetermined signalstored in the memory of a controller included in the signal-activatedfastener. In another embodiment, an object, such as a communicationdevice, may be secured/released to/from a signal-activated garment ofthe present invention.

SUMMARY

The present invention discloses a lingerie, including a method ofoperation, which comprises a panel, a first and second straps, and asignal-activated fastener which is housed inside a housing. Uponreception of a signal, the signal-activated fastener unfastens causingthe housing to decouple from the end of one of the straps, the weight ofwhich is advantageously used to pull the entire lingerie with it so thatthe lingerie falls off from the wearer's body.

In one aspect, a lingerie is disclosed comprising a panel that coversone or more areas of a wearer's body, said panel including a firstpanel-end and a second panel-end, a first strap including a firstfirst-strap-end and a second first-strap-end, wherein the firstfirst-strap-end is coupled with the first panel-end, a second strapincluding a first second-strap-end and a second second-strap-end,wherein the first second-strap-end is coupled with the second panel-end,and a housing that houses a signal-activated fastener, said housingincluding a first housing-end and a second housing-end, wherein thefirst housing-end is coupled with the second first-strap-end and thesecond housing-end is coupled with the second second-strap-end, whereinthe signal-activated fastener is responsive to a signal and operative tounfasten causing the housing to decouple from one of the secondfirst-strap-end and second second-strap-end, and wherein the weight ofthe housing due to gravity causes the lingerie to fall off from thewearer's body.

Preferably, the lingerie is one of a bra, a panties, and a combinationthereof. Preferably, at least one of the first strap and second strapcomprises elastic material, wherein by coupling the housing with thesecond first-strap-end and second second-strap-end the elastic materialis stretched, and wherein by unfastening the signal-activated fastener,the strain energy associated with the stretched elastic material furthercauses the lingerie to fall off from the wearer's body. Preferably, thehousing comprises a spherical shape.

Preferably, the one of the second first-strap-end and secondsecond-strap-end comprises a ferrous component, and wherein thesignal-activated fastener comprises a sensor capable of sensing pressurewaves generated by a person clapping his/her hands and operative togenerate an electrical signal, a controller responsive to the electricalsignal and operative to generate a control signal, and an electromagnetmagnetically coupled with the ferrous component thereby fastening thelingerie, wherein the electromagnet is responsive to the control signaland operative to demagnetize thereby decoupling from the ferrouscomponent. Preferably, the sensor is a microphone. Preferably, thecontroller is a microprocessor.

Preferably, the controller generates the control signal upon verifyingthat the electrical signal comprises two consecutive claps within apredetermined time interval. Preferably, the controller generates thecontrol signal upon verifying that the electrical signal comprises asingle clap including a predetermined amplitude.

Preferably, the sensor is a voice biometric sensor capable of sensingvoice of a person speaking and operative to generate an electricalsignal. Preferably, the controller generates the control signal uponverifying that the electrical signal substantially matches apredetermined signal. Preferably, the predetermined signal is at leastone of a password, a phrase, and a combination thereof. Preferably, thesensor comprises at least one of a biometric sensor, pressure sensor,and optical sensor.

In another aspect, a method for unfastening a lingerie is disclosed. Thelingerie comprises a panel that covers one or more areas of a wearer'sbody, said panel including a first panel-end and a second panel-end, afirst strap including a first first-strap-end and a secondfirst-strap-end, wherein the first first-strap-end is coupled with thefirst panel-end, a second strap including a first second-strap-end and asecond second-strap-end, wherein the first second-strap-end is coupledwith the second panel-end, and a housing that houses a signal-activatedfastener, said housing including a first housing-end and a secondhousing-end, wherein the first housing-end is coupled with the secondfirst-strap-end and the second housing-end is coupled with the secondsecond-strap-end, the method comprises responding to a signal via thesignal-activated fastener, and unfastening the signal-activated fastenercausing the housing to decouple from one of the second first-strap-endand second second-strap-end, and wherein the weight of the housing dueto gravity causes the lingerie to fall off from the wearer's body.

Preferably, the one of the second first-strap-end and secondsecond-strap-end comprises a ferrous component, and wherein the step ofresponding to a signal via the signal-activated fastener comprisessensing pressure waves generated by a person clapping his/her hands viaa sensor included in the signal-activated fastener, and wherein the stepof unfastening the signal-activated fastener comprises generating anelectrical signal via the sensor, responding to the electrical signalvia a controller included in the signal-activated fastener, generating acontrol signal via the controller, responding to the control signal viaan electromagnet included in the signal-activated fastener, saidelectromagnet magnetically coupled with the ferrous component therebyfastening the lingerie, and demagnetizing the electromagnet therebydecoupling from the ferrous component.

Preferably, the step of generating the control signal via the controllercomprises generating the control signal upon verifying that theelectrical signal comprises two consecutive claps within a specific timeinterval. Preferably, the step of responding to a signal via thesignal-activated fastener comprises sensing voice of a person speakingvia a sensor included in the signal-activated fastener. Preferably, thecontroller generates the control signal upon verifying that theelectrical signal substantially matches a predetermined signal.

In another aspect a panel that covers one or more areas of a wearer'sbody is disclosed. The panel comprises a first panel-end and a secondpanel-end and a housing that houses a signal-activated fastener, saidhousing including a first housing-end and a second housing-end, whereinthe first housing-end is coupled with the first panel-end and the secondhousing-end is coupled with the second panel-end, wherein thesignal-activated fastener is responsive to a signal and operative tounfasten causing the housing to decouple from one of the first panel-endand second panel-end, and wherein the weight of the housing due togravity causes the panel to fall off from the wearer's body. Preferably,a garment comprises one or more of said panels.

In another aspect, a lingerie is disclosed comprising a panel thatcovers one or more areas of a wearer's body, said panel including afirst panel-end and a second panel-end, a strap including a firststrap-end and a second strap-end, wherein the first strap-end is coupledwith the first panel-end, and a housing that houses a signal-activatedfastener, said housing including a first housing-end and a secondhousing-end, wherein the first housing-end is coupled with the secondstrap-end and the second housing-end is coupled with the secondpanel-end, wherein the signal-activated fastener is responsive to asignal and operative to unfasten causing the housing to decouple fromone of the second strap-end and second panel-end, and wherein the weightof the housing due to gravity causes the lingerie to fall off from thewearer's body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows various garments 100 that may be fastened/unfastened via asignal-activated fastener according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a signal-activated brassiere 200comprising a signal-activated fastener.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred method of fastening/unfastening a garment via asignal-activated fastener according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of a signal-activated garment 400comprising a voice activated fastener operable to secure/release anobject to the garment.

FIG. 5 shows a preferred method of fastening/unfastening an object to agarment via a signal-activated fastener according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of a lingerie comprising a panel, afirst and second straps, and a signal-activated fastener inside ahousing according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the inside of the housing wherethe signal-activated fastener includes a controller, a sensor, and anelectromagnet according to the present invention.

FIG. 8, consisting of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, shows as preferred embodimentof a lingerie, front and back views, worn by a person according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows various garments 100 that may be fastened/unfastened via asignal-activated fastener. According to the present invention, abrassiere, a belt, trousers, and a dress may be equipped with asignal-activated fastener so that they may be fastened or unfastenedwhen a controller, included in the signal-activated fastener, ascertainsa match between a received signal and a predetermined signal stored inthe memory of the controller. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, an object, such as a weapon, communication device, article ofclothing, may be secured/released to/from the garment via thesignal-activated fastener.

The present invention utilizes the presently known authenticationtechnology to arrive at a garment that may be controllably fastened orunfastened. Voice and fingerprint identifications are among the manyauthentication systems presently known to skilled artisans. Voiceverification is conceptually similar to fingerprinting. It is commonknowledge that each person's fingerprints have unique characteristicsthat can be used to distinguish one person from another. It has alsobeen proven that each person can be identified by the unique features ofhis or her vocal characteristics and speaking patterns. Biometric, voiceverification is the process of comparing a voice sample with a stored,digital voice model, or voiceprint, for the purpose of verifyingidentity. A voiceprint is a digital representation of some of the uniquecharacteristics of an individual's voice, including physiologicalcharacteristics of the nasal passages and vocal chords, as well as thefrequency, cadence and duration of the vocal pattern.

In one instance, a brassiere comprises a signal-activated fastener thatsecures the brassiere on a woman's body. A general construction of thesignal-activated fastener may require a power source such as a battery,a locking/unlocking device (fastener) such as an actuator, a sensor suchas a biometric sensor, and a controller coupled with the sensor and thelocking/unlocking device and including a microprocessor with all therequired peripherals including software, known to skilled artisan,wherein said controller is responsive to the signal generated by thesensor and operative to apply a signal to the locking/unlocking device,upon recognition of the biometric quantity, i.e., one or more intrinsicphysical or behavioural traits, to close/open the brassiere.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a clap-off bra 200 comprising aclap-off-activated fastener. The bra 202 comprises a clap-off-activatedfastener which includes a controller 204, a sensor 206, and a fastener208. According to one preferred embodiment, the controller 204 comprisesa battery as its power source and a microprocessor to process the signalreceived by the sensor 206. Preferably, the sensor 206 is a microphonewhich generates an electrical signal when it senses pressure wavesgenerated by the clapping sound. The controller 204 receives theelectrical signal, processes the signal, and verifies that the signalcomprises two consecutive claps within a predetermined time interval.The controller 204 then generates a control signal, operative on thefastener 208, to unfasten the bra 202. In another instance, thecontroller 204 receives the electrical signal, processes the signal, andverifies that the signal comprises a single clap having a predeterminedamplitude, i.e., decibel level.

In one instance, an individual, wearing the signal-activated bra 200,manually fastens the bra 202 via the fastener 208. The sensor 206receives sound waves that are generated by another individual clappinghis/her hands. The controller 204 processes the signal and unfastens thebra 202 when it determines that there are two consecutive claps within apredetermined time interval.

In another embodiment, the signal-activated brassier 200 comprises avoice-activated fastener. The brassier 202 comprises a voice-activatedfastener which includes a controller 204, a sensor 206, and a fastener208. According to one preferred embodiment, the controller 204 comprisesa battery as its power source and a microprocessor to process the signalreceived by the sensor 206. Preferably, the sensor 206 comprises abiometric sensor, such a biometric voice sensor. The controller 204receives a voice signal via the biometric voice sensor 206, processesthe signal, and compares the signal with a predetermined signal. Ifthere is a substantial match between the two signals, the controller 204generates a control signal, operative on the fastener 208, tocontrollably fasten/unfasten the brassiere 202.

In one instance, an individual, wearing the signal-activated brassiere200, manually fastens the brassiere 202 via the fastener 208. The sensor206 receives a voice signal, generated by another individual, and thecontroller 204 processes the signal and unfastens the brassiere 202 whena match is found. Accordingly, the brassiere 202 may only beautomatically unfastened upon verification of the voice of the otherindividual. In another embodiment, the controller 204 verities the voicesignal when the other individual provides the correct password and thenapplies a control signal to the fastener 208 to fasten/unfasten thegarment.

In another embodiment, the sensor 206 comprises a biometric sensor, suchas a biometric fingerprint sensor. The controller 204 receives afingerprint signal via the biometric fingerprint sensor 206, processesthe signal, and compares the signal with a predetermined signal. Ifthere is a substantial match between the two signals, the controller 204generates a control signal, operative on the fastener 208, tocontrollably fasten/unfasten the brassiere 202.

In one instance, an individual, wearing the signal-activated brassiere200, manually fastens the brassiere 202 via the fastener 208. The sensor206 receives a fingerprint signal, generated by another individual, andthe controller 204 processes the signal and unfastens the brassiere 202when a match is found. Accordingly, the brassiere 202 may only beautomatically unfastened upon verification of the fingerprint of theother individual.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram 300 of one method of fastening/unfastening agarment according to the present invention. The preferred methodcomprises receiving a signal, such as a biometric signal, pressuresignal, optical signal, via a signal-activated fastener at 302, and atleast one of fastening and unfastening the garment according to thesignal at 304.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment 400 of a signal-activated garment402 comprising a voice activated fastener. According to this embodiment,an object, such as a cell phone 404, may be secured/released to/from thesignal-activated garment 402 via a signal activated fastener, such as avoice-activated fastener which includes a controller, such as thecontroller 204, a sensor, such as the sensor 206, and a fastener, suchas the fastener 208. According to one preferred embodiment, thecontroller 204 comprises a battery as its power source and amicroprocessor to process the signal received by the sensor 206.Preferably, the sensor 206 comprises a biometric sensor, such abiometric voice sensor. The controller 204 receives a voice signal viathe biometric voice sensor 206, processes the signal, and compares thesignal with a predetermined signal. If there is a substantial matchbetween the two signals, the controller 204 generates a control signal,operative on the fastener 208, to controllably fasten/unfasten the cellphone 404 to the signal-activated garment 402.

In one instance, an individual, wearing the signal-activated garment402, manually fastens the cell phone 404 via the fastener 208. Thesensor 206 receives a voice signal, generated by the individual, and thecontroller 204 processes the signal and unfastens the cell phone 404when a match is found. Accordingly, the cell phone 404 may only beautomatically unfastened upon verification of the voice of theindividual. In another embodiment, the controller 204 verifies the voicesignal when the individual provides the correct password and thenapplies a control signal to the fastener 208 to fasten/unfasten the cellphone 404.

In another embodiment, the sensor 206 comprises a biometric sensor, suchas a biometric fingerprint sensor. The controller 204 receives afingerprint signal via the biometric fingerprint sensor 206, processesthe signal, and compares the signal with a predetermined signal. Ifthere is a substantial match between the two signals, the controller 204generates a control signal, operative, on the fastener 208, tocontrollably secure/release the cell phone 404 to/from thesignal-activated garment 402.

In one instance, an individual, wearing the signal-activated garment402, manually fastens the cell phone 404 via the fastener 208. Thesensor 206 receives a fingerprint signal, generated by the individual,and the controller 204 processes the signal and unfastens the cell phone404 when a match is found. Accordingly, the cell phone 404 may only beautomatically unfastened upon verification of the fingerprint of theindividual.

FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram 500 of one method of fastening/unfasteningan object to a signal-activated garment of the present invention. Thepreferred method comprises receiving a signal, such as a biometricsignal, pressure signal, optical signal, via a signal-activated fastenerat 502, and at least one of fastening, and unfastening the object to thesignal-activated garment according to the signal at 304.

FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of a signal-activated panties 600comprising a signal-activated fastener. The signal-activated panties 600comprises a panel 602 which includes a first panel-end 603 and secondpanel-end 605. The signal-activated panties 600 further comprises afirst strap 610 which includes a first first-strap-end 607 and a secondfirst-strap-end 609, wherein the first first-strap-end 607 is coupledwith the first panel-end 603, preferably stitched and wherein the secondfirst-strap-end 609 comprises a ferrous component 608. Thesignal-activated panties 600 further comprises a second strap 604 whichincludes a first second-strap-end 611 and a second second-strap-end 613,wherein the first second-strap-end 611 is coupled with the secondpanel-end 605, preferably stitched.

The signal-activated panties 600 further comprises a housing 606 thathouses a signal-activated fastener (see FIG. 7) which includes a firsthousing-end 617 and a second housing-end 615, wherein the firsthousing-end 617 is coupled with the ferrous component 608 of the secondfirst-strap-end 609, and the second housing-end 615 is coupled with thesecond second-strap-end 613, in a preferred embodiment thesignal-activated fastener comprises an electromagnet which ismagnetically couples the first housing-end 617 to the ferrous component608 of the second first-strap-end 609. The signal-activated fastener isresponsive to a signal, for instance two consecutive claps within apredetermined time interval, and operative to unfasten causing thehousing 606 to magnetically decouple from the ferrous component 608 ofthe second first-strap-end 609 and wherein the weight of the housing606, which includes the signal-activated fastener (see FIG. 7), due togravity causes the signal-activated panties 600 to fall off from thewearer's body. In another preferred embodiment, at least one of thefirst and second straps, 610 and 604, comprises elastic material,wherein by coupling the first housing-end 617 of the housing 606 withthe ferrous component 608 of the second first-strap-end 609, the elasticmaterial is stretched, and by unfastening the signal-activated fastener,the strain energy associated with the stretched elastic material furthercauses the signal-activated panties 600 to fall off from the wearer'sbody.

FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the inside of a housing such asthe housing 606 in FIG. 6, where the signal-activated fastener 700includes a controller 702, a sensor 706, and an electromagnet 704, suchas a solenoid known to artisans of ordinary skill. The controller 702may be analog or digital such as a microprocessor and includes arechargeable battery (not shown) as its power source, said battery mayfurther be used to energize the electromagnet 704. The sensor 706 maybea microphone which senses the pressure waves generated by a personclapping his/her hands.

The controller 702 receives the electrical signal, processes the signal,and verifies that the signal comprises two consecutive claps within apredetermined time interval. The controller 702 then generates, acontrol signal, operative on the electromagnet 704 to de-energize(demagnetize) the electromagnet 704 causing the first housing end 617 todecouple from the ferrous component 608 of the second first-strap-end609. The weight of the housing 606, which includes the signal-activatedfastener 700, causes the signal-activated panties 600 to fall off fromthe wearer's body.

FIG. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of an individual wearing asignal-activated panties 800 according to the present invention. Inparticular, FIG. 8A shows the front side of the wearer and FIG. 8B showsthe back side of the wearer. The signal-activated panties 800 comprisesa panel 802 which includes a first panel-end 803 and second panel-end805. The signal-activated panties 800 further comprises a first strap810 which includes a first first-strap-end 807 and a secondfirst-strap-end 809, wherein the first first-strap-end 807 is coupledwith the first panel-end 8603, preferably stitched and wherein thesecond first-strap-end 809 comprises a ferrous component 808. Thesignal-activated panties 800 further comprises a second strap 804 whichincludes a first second-strap-end 811 and a second second-strap-end 813,wherein the first second-strap-end 811 is coupled with the secondpanel-end 805, preferably stitched.

The signal-activated panties 800 further comprises a housing 806 thathouses a signal-activated fastener (see FIG. 7) which includes a firsthousing-end 817 and a second housing-end 815, wherein the firsthousing-end 817 is coupled with the ferrous component 808 of the secondfirst-strap-end 809, and the second housing-end 815 is coupled with thesecond second-strap-end 813. In a preferred embodiment thesignal-activated fastener comprises an electromagnet which magneticallycouples the first housing-end 817 with the ferrous component 808 of thesecond first-strap-end 809. The controller 702 of the signal-activatedfastener 700 is responsive to a signal, for instance two consecutiveclaps within a predetermined time interval, and operative to unfastencausing the housing 806 to magnetically decouple from the ferrouscomponent 808 of the second first-strap-end 809 and wherein the weightof the housing 806, which includes the signal-activated fastener (seeFIG. 7), due to gravity causes the signal-activated panties 800 to falloff from the wearer's body.

In one instance, an individual wearing the signal-activated panties 800manually fastens the signal-activated panties 800 by magnetizing(energizing) the electromagnet 704 causing the first housing-end 817 tocouple with the ferrous component 808 of the second first-strap-end 809.The sensor 706 receives sound waves that are generated by anotherindividual clapping his/her hands. The controller 702 processes thesignal and generates a control signal that unfastens thesignal-activated fastener 700 by demagnetizing (de-energizing) theelectromagnet 704 when it determines that there are two consecutiveclaps, roughly 250 milliseconds apart, within a predetermined timeinterval, approximately 1 second.

In another embodiment, the sensor 706 of the signal-activated fastener700 is a biometric voice sensor. The controller 702 of thesignal-activated fastener 700 receives a voice signal via the biometricvoice sensor 706, processes the signal, and compares the signal with apredetermined signal. If there is a substantial match between the twosignals, the controller 706 generates a control signal, operative on theelectromagnet 704 causing the housing 806 to magnetically decouple fromthe ferrous component 808 of the second first-strap-end 809. The weightof the housing 806, which includes the signal-activated fastener (seeFIG. 7), due to gravity causes the signal-activated panties 800 to falloff from the wearer's body.

In one instance, an individual wearing the signal-activated panties 800manually fastens the signal-activated panties 800 by magnetizing(energizing) the electromagnet 704 causing the first housing-end 817 tocouple with the ferrous component 808 of the second first-strap-end 809.The biometric voice sensor 706 receives a voice signal, generated byanother individual, and the controller 702 processes the signal andgenerates a control signal that unfastens the signal-activated fastener700 by demagnetizing (de-energizing) the electromagnet 704 when a matchis found. Accordingly, the signal-activated panties 800 may only beautomatically unfastened upon verification of the voice of the otherindividual. In another embodiment, the controller 702 verifies the voicesignal when the other individual provides the correct password and thenapplies a control signal to the electromagnet 704.

In another embodiment, the sensor 706 of the signal-activated fastener700 is a biometric fingerprint sensor. The controller 702 of thesignal-activated fastener 700 receives a fingerprint signal via thebiometric fingerprint sensor 706, processes the signal, and compares thesignal with a predetermined signal. If there is a substantial matchbetween the two signals, the controller 706 generates a control signal,operative on the electromagnet 704 causing the housing 806 tomagnetically decouple from the ferrous component 808 of the secondfirst-strap-end 809. The weight of the housing 806, which includes thesignal-activated fastener (see FIG. 7), due to gravity causes thesignal-activated panties 800 to fall off from the wearer's body.

In one instance, an individual wearing the signal-activated panties 800manually fastens the signal-activated panties 800 by magnetizing(energizing) the electromagnet 704 causing the first housing-end 817 tocouple with the ferrous component 808 of the second first-strap-end 809.The biometric fingerprint sensor 706 receives a fingerprint signal,generated by another individual, and the controller 702 processes thesignal and generates a control signal that unfastens thesignal-activated fastener 700 by demagnetizing (de-energizing) theelectromagnet 704 when a match is found. Accordingly, thesignal-activated panties 800 may only be automatically unfastened uponverification of the fingerprint of the other individual.

The foregoing explanations, descriptions, illustrations, examples, anddiscussions have been set forth to assist the reader with understandingthis invention and further to demonstrate the utility and novelty of itand are by no means restrictive of the scope of the invention. It is thefollowing claims, including all equivalents, which are intended todefine the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lingerie comprising: (a) a panel that coversone or more areas of a wearer's body, said panel including a firstpanel-end and a second panel-end; (b) a first strap including a firstfirst-strap-end and a second first-strap-end, wherein the firstfirst-strap-end is coupled with the first panel-end; (c) a second strapincluding a first second-strap-end and a second second-strap-end,wherein the first second-strap-end is coupled with the second panel-end;and (d) a housing that houses a signal-activated fastener, said housingincluding a first housing-end and a second housing-end, wherein thefirst housing-end is coupled with the second first-strap-end and thesecond housing-end is coupled with the second second-strap-end; whereinthe signal-activated fastener is responsive to a signal and operative tounfasten causing the housing to decouple from one of the secondfirst-strap-end and second second-strap-end, and wherein the weight ofthe housing due to gravity causes the lingerie to fall off from thewearer's body.
 2. The lingerie of claim 1, wherein the lingerie is oneof a bra, a panties, and a combination thereof.
 3. The lingerie of claim1, wherein at least one of the first strap and second strap compriseselastic material, wherein by coupling the housing with the secondfirst-strap-end and second second-strap-end the elastic material isstretched, and wherein by unfastening the signal-activated fastener, thestrain energy associated with the stretched elastic material furthercauses the lingerie to fall off from the wearer's body.
 4. The lingerieof claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a spherical shape.
 5. Thelingerie of claim 1, wherein the one of the second first-strap-end andsecond second-strap-end comprises a ferrous component, and wherein thesignal-activated fastener comprises: (a) a sensor capable of sensingpressure waves generated by a person clapping his/her hands andoperative to generate an electrical signal; (b) a controller responsiveto the electrical signal and operative to generate a control signal; and(c) an electromagnet magnetically coupled with the ferrous componentthereby fastening the lingerie; wherein the electromagnet is responsiveto the control signal and operative to demagnetize thereby decouplingfrom the ferrous component.
 6. The lingerie of claim 5, wherein thesensor is a microphone.
 7. The lingerie of claim 5, wherein thecontroller is a microprocessor.
 8. The lingerie of claim 5, wherein thecontroller generates the control signal upon verifying that theelectrical signal comprises two consecutive claps within a predeterminedtime interval.
 9. The lingerie of claim 5, wherein the controllergenerates the control signal upon verifying that the electrical signalcomprises a single clap including a predetermined amplitude.
 10. Thelingerie of claim 5, wherein the sensor is a voice biometric sensorcapable of sensing voice of a person and operative to generate anelectrical signal.
 11. The lingerie of claim 10, wherein the controllergenerates the control signal upon verifying that the electrical signalsubstantially matches a predetermined signal.
 12. The lingerie of claim11, wherein the predetermined signal is at least one of a password, aphrase, and a combination thereof.
 13. The lingerie of claim 5, whereinthe sensor comprises at least one of a biometric sensor, pressuresensor, and optical sensor.
 14. A method for unfastening a lingerie,said lingerie comprising: (a) a panel that covers one or more areas of awearer's body, said panel including a first panel-end and a secondpanel-end; (b) a first strap including a first first-strap-end and asecond first-strap-end, wherein the first first-strap-end is coupledwith the first panel-end; (c) a second strap including a firstsecond-strap-end and a second second-strap-end, wherein the firstsecond-strap-end is coupled with the second panel-end; and (d) a housingthat houses a signal-activated fastener, said housing including a firsthousing-end and a second housing-end, wherein the first housing-end iscoupled with the second first-strap-end and the second housing-end iscoupled with the second second-strap-end; said method comprising: (i)responding to a signal via the signal-activated fastener; and (ii)unfastening the signal-activated fastener causing the housing todecouple from one of the second first-strap-end and secondsecond-strap-end, and wherein the weight of the housing due to gravitycauses the lingerie to fall off from the wearer's body.
 15. The methodof claim 14, wherein the one of the second first-strap-end and secondsecond-strap-end comprises a ferrous component, and wherein the step ofresponding to a signal via the signal-activated fastener comprises: (i)sensing pressure waves generated by a person clapping his/her hands viaa sensor included in the signal-activated fastener; and wherein the stepof unfastening the signal-activated, fastener comprises: (i) generatingan electrical signal via the sensor; (ii) responding to the electricalsignal via a controller included in the signal-activated fastener; (iii)generating a control signal via the controller; (iv) responding to thecontrol signal via an electromagnet included in the signal-activatedfastener, said electromagnet magnetically coupled with the ferrouscomponent thereby fastening the lingerie; and (v) demagnetizing theelectromagnet thereby decoupling from the ferrous component.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the step of generating the control signalvia the controller comprises generating the control signal uponverifying that the electrical signal comprises two consecutive clapswithin a specific time interval.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein thestep of responding to a signal via the signal-activated fastenercomprises sensing voice of a person via a sensor included in thesignal-activated fastener.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the stepof generating the control signal via the controller comprises generatingthe control signal upon verifying that the electrical signalsubstantially matches a predetermined signal.
 19. A panel that coversone or more areas of a wearer's body, said panel comprising: (a) a firstpanel-end and a second panel-end; and (b) a housing that houses asignal-activated fastener, said housing including a first housing-endand a second housing-end, wherein the first housing-end is coupled withthe first panel-end and the second housing-end is coupled with thesecond panel-end; wherein the signal-activated fastener is responsive toa signal and operative to unfasten causing the housing to decouple fromone of the first panel-end and second panel-end, and wherein the weightof the housing due to gravity causes the panel to fall off from thewearer's body.
 20. A garment comprising one or more of the panels ofclaim
 19. 21. A lingerie comprising: (a) a panel that covers one or moreareas of a wearer's body, said panel including a first panel-end and asecond panel-end; (b) a strap including a first strap-end and a secondstrap-end, wherein the first strap-end is coupled with the firstpanel-end; and (c) a housing that houses a signal-activated fastener,said housing including a first housing-end and a second housing-end,wherein the first housing-end is coupled with the second strap-end andthe second housing-end is coupled with the second panel-end; wherein thesignal-activated fastener is responsive to a signal and operative tounfasten causing the housing to decouple from one of the secondstrap-end and second panel-end, and wherein the weight of the housingdue to gravity causes the lingerie to fall off from the wearer's body.